Legal resources for entrepreneurs

Learn more about issues that often result in court disputes.

By Anne Field, FSB contributor

July 11 2007: 5:08 PM EDT

FSB -- Seeking legal advice can be costly. Get more out of your next conversation with your lawyer by doing some homework ahead of time. Here are some useful sites and articles to help you take a proactive approach to issues that often result in legal suits - so you can stay out of the court room.

"Zero to $1 Billion." This article from FORTUNE Small Business looks at the ways that small companies have used strategic alliances to grow rapidly, among other expansion strategies.

Intellectual property

Copyright, patent, trademark. The National Federation for Independent Business's toolbox covers key issues, from finding a patent lawyer to protecting yourself from accusations of patent infringement.

Protect your ideas. This series of articles from the Small Business Administration will help you identify what is unique about your product. It also answers common questions about protecting your innovations.